"The Practical Manifesto"

In my "day job," I work in software delivery -- which you would think has very little to do with costume design. Except, the wonderful place where I work has allowed me to learn about the Agile method of delivering work -- a methodology that can help one take any major project and deliver it in value - oriented chunks.

What on earth does this have to do with Costume Stuff?

Everything!

Many of us have a love / hate relationship with trying to make our own costumes. We struggle to take big, daunting projects and finish them. Piles of fabric linger as "future costumes" that never get worn and loved. And, attempting projects beyond our skill causes frustration and failure.

Agile shows us that the key to success is to focus on what is really valuable to the customer (in this case, you). By recognizing that, you can make the call on where to invest your time when costuming, and how to break the work down into small, independently useable pieces that you, as the customer of your own work, deem to be the most valuable.

Thus, with apologies to those who crafted the Agile Manifesto, I would like to share my own "Practical Manifesto":

My highest priority is to create beautiful, functional costuming where each piece delivers value to my wardrobe. 


It is perfectly acceptable to shift design in during construction in order to make the costume more useful. 


Costume creations should be constructed in components that can be scaled to the skills and time that I have to work on them and so that I can use them quickly. 


I am both costume designer and costume wearer; I shall never forget that both my creative and practical needs must both be met. 


I need to be motivated to finish a costume; my costume must have a purpose -- an occasion to use it -- in order to make me finish it. 


The most effective way to make the costume beautiful is to try it on frequently in the process of making it. 


Wearable costumes are how I measure my success. 


I need to enjoy the process of creating costumes. In order to enjoy it, I must set reasonable projects that I am confident I can deliver without growing bored or frustrated. 


As I create, I will grow my skills in creation, getting better at costume creation as I practice. (Just as with my dance!) 


The simplest costume pieces are the most versatile and long-lived in my wardrobe. 


My projects should be based on my skills and strengths: I invest time into what I can create and money (for others to make) that which I cannot on my own. It is OK to “outsource” some costume pieces. 


I shall regularly revisit my old creations and see what I would do differently in the future as I create new ones (or, recreate old ones).

I'll discuss some of these concepts in future posts, giving you some ideas on how to make the call on getting the most value out of the time and money you invest in your wardrobe.

This applies to costumes, too!

A recent blog post on CNN discussed whether someone could "catch" diseases from vintage clothing. Having worked in a thrift store during college, I can attest that the most delightful items can come from questionable sources. And, environments like thrift stores pile all of the merchandise together, allowing "icky things" to spread. While the likelihood of getting sick from a costume is low, there is a slightly higher chance that you will inherit silverfish or other little critters that like to dine on fabric (as opposed to dining on you).

You may be wondering how this relates to costumes . . .

Ever bought a used one at a workshop?

Ever bought one from a vendor?

Ever bought one, period? Or, bought the parts?

The sad truth is that textiles that become costumes tend to travel a LOT. They may come from halfway around the world. They may live in someone's basement for a few years. And, they may come with "friends."

So, the advice in Dr. Gupta's blog is sound: wash it if you can, isolate the item in a plastic bag for a few weeks, and take good care of your clothes. Periodically inspect all of your costumes and the containers you store them in, looking for little visitors. Keep them in a clean, conditioned environment. And, when introducing new costumes in to the mix, quarantine them for a bit!

Recommended Readings – Beauty for the stage!

(a.k.a. “I couldn’t have said it better myself!”)

There are many things that I am still learning. After scouting the Internet to research a few things, here are some other resources that I wanted to share with my readers. I hope these links help you learn new things that benefit your dance!

First, here is a wonderful post on WHY you should wear stage makeup: http://www.kawakib.com/page-43.html

Next, here is an amazing instructional video on how to apply dramatic eye makeup. I used the principles in this tutorial this past Saturday and received rave reviews! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ILuAlxVUU4&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbellydancingdiva%2Ecom%2F2009%2F06%2Fstage%2Dmakeup%2Dand%2Dhair%2Dtips%2F&feature=player_embedded

Makeup alone will only get you partway to the stage. Here is a magnificent instructional clip on how to keep ornaments in your hair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFj8IJ2CvUg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ethegypsykiss%2Ecom%2Fhowtobellydancefreeclips%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded

And, if you like braids, then this site will give you both instruction and ideas:
http://www.dreamweaverbraiding.com/Braiding_Tips.htm

Please note: All URL’s link to pages by other artists who have full copyright to the materials therein. These are provided as a referral without making any claim of ownership of the content. The best way to honor an artist is to support them in their art!